Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Fall to the Cougars in the Golden State, 5-3 Monday, February 20, 2006 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications Stockton, CA - The Philadelphia KiXX (4-14) were defeated by the expansion California Cougars (4-17), 5-3, tonight at the Stockton Arena. The loss extends the club’s franchise worst mark of consecutive losses to nine. Forward Aaron Susi recorded the game-winning goal on an assist from Ricardinho at 8:55 of the fourth quarter. Peter Pappas (4-12) suffered the loss for Philadelphia with 12 saves on 16 chances, while Jim Larkin (3-13) earned the victory with the Cougars, turning away 12 of the 15 shots he faced. Enrique Tover opened the scoring with the only goal of the first quarter (2:08), a header off a rebounded shot from teammate Craig Scheer to give the hosting Cougars an early 1-0 advantage. Local products David Castellanos and Pat Morris connected to knot the game, 1-1, at 3:33 of the second period. Vicente Figueroa quickly responded to regain California’s one-goal lead, 2-1, at 4:14. John Ball added an unassisted tally to lengthen the Cougar advantage to two, 3-1, at 8:30, but KiXX newcomer Dino Delevski notched an unassisted tally of his own with only two seconds remaining in the half (14:58), to pull the team back within one, 3-2. After a scoreless third quarter, California registered a pair of unanswered goals to extend their advantage to three, 5-2. Susi struck first on a dish from Ricardinho at 8:55 of the stanza, followed by Ball’s second tally of the evening at 13:26. With midfielder Gary DePalma serving as sixth attacker, Morris pulled Philadelphia back within two on a feed from player/coach Don D’Ambra at 13:44, but the Cougars held on to earn a 5-3 victory. *Notes: With a goal tonight, two-time League MVP Dino Delevski has now recorded a pair of goals and one assist for three points in his first two games in a KiXX uniform. Philadelphia: 0-2-0-1=3 Shots: 15 Goalkeepers: Pappas (L, 12 saves). Scorers: Morris (goal, assist), Castellanos (goal), D’Ambra (assist), Delevski (goal). California: 1-2-0-2=5 Shots: 19 Goalkeepers: Larkin (W, 12 saves). Scorers: Ball (two goals, assist), Scheer (two assists), Figueroa (goal), Ricardinho (assist), Susi (goal), Tovar (goal).